Textile washing and drying apparatus



May 29, 1951 J. w. CHAMBERLIN TEXTILE WASHING AND DRYING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 31, 1946 To/7w W. CHAMA'ERL/N INVENTOR ATTORNEY y 1951 J. w. CHAMBERLIN 2,555,268

TEXTILE WASHING AND DRYING APPARATUS Filed May 51, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VE N TOR JOHN Hf GHAMBEFL/N ATTORNEY Patented May 29, 1951 TEXTILE WASHING AND DRYING APPARATUS John W. Chamberlin, Mequon, Wis., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Avco Manufacturing Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application May 31, 1946, Serial No. 673,515

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an automatic machine for washing and drying of textiles.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a mechanism for eifectively accomplishing both washing and drying in a single machine with a minimum of mechanism and by using certain of said mechanisms for performing functions in both washing and drying.

It is another object to provide means in a combined washer and dryer for effectively sealing portions of the dryer mechanism during the washing operation and to automatically open said sealed portions when the machine is operated as a dryer.

It is a further object to provide a combined washer and dryer mechanism in which the drain assembly employed for removing wash water is also used to drain condensed moisture from the machine during the time the machine is used as a dryer.

The above and other objects of the invention will appear more fully from the following more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and wherein:

Figure 1 is a cross section through a machine showing the clothes cylinder tub and a portion of the drying mechanism.

Figure 2 is a section taken on the lines AA of Figure 1 showing a section through the machine and a plane at right angles to the plane of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view and section on the line B-B of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top view of the machine shown in Figure 1.

.Figure 5 is a diagram showing the general arrangement of the several elements and particularly the wiring diagram of the several elec-- trical units.

Referring to the drawings, the cylindrical shaped tub II] has a clothes containing cylinder ll mounted for rotation therein, the clothes cylinder being of the type which is mounted for rotation on a substantially horizontal axis on a shaft I2. The shaft I2 is mounted on one end of the cylinder which is driven for rotation from a drive motor [3 through a belt [4 and a gear box IE thus providing two speeds of rotation for the cylinder ll, one speed for washing and a higher speed for centrifugal extraction. The washing or tumbling speed of rotation is provided through the gear box IS, a higher gear ratio being made available by actuation of a clutch inside the gear box which clutch is controlled by the actuation of an electrical solenoid 16. By actuation of the solenoid [6, a higher speed of rotation of the cylinder H is made available for extracting the washing or rinsing liquid from the clothes by centrifugal force. The opposite end of the motor i3 is provided with a second gear box I! also affordingtwo speeds of rotation for driving a combination blower and pump l8 the unit operating as a pump at low speed and as a blower for air at high speed. A high speed drive for operating the combined unit l8 as an air handling blower is efiected by actuation of a solenoid l9 but when the solenoid is not actuated the lower speed of operation of the unit I8 is effective to actuate the unit at a speed suitable for operation as a liquid handling pump. The combined blower and pump element I8 is connected as a part of the drain for the machine at the bottom of the tub l0 through a conduit 20 and a sump 2| thus providing fluid circulating means in the drain outlet for handling both water and air. The conduit 20 is connected to the central inlet of -the combined pump and blower unit and a drain conduit 39 is connected with the outlet side of the pump-blower combination.

The tub I0 is housed in an outer casing 22 as shown in Figure 1. The casing is spaced from the tub I ll a sufiicient amount to allow an air heating chamber 23 to be positioned adjacent the top of the tub Ii] between the tub and the top of casing 22 as shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive. This air heating chamber is adjacent the wall of the tub I 0 and an opening is provided from the heating chamber 23 into the tub III. This opening or passage may be opened or closed by actuation of a plurality of overlapping pivoted louvers 24 which are rectangular shaped overlapping members pivoted on their longitudinal axes and designed to be opened by the actuation of a solenoid 25 and to be closed by a spring when the solenoid 25 is not actuated. Thus by the actuation or lack of actuation of the solenoid 25 the louvers may be swung on their axes to open or close the passageway between the heating chamber 23 and the tub ill, the closed position providing a watertight seal for the opening between the heater chamber 23 and the tub I!) during washing operations. Just above the louver controlled opening 2 1 an electrical heating element 26 is located in the heating chamber and adjacent to and above this heating element 25 is a fan 21 with an electrical drive motor 28 above the fan. The heating chamber 23 is provided with an air inlet 29 at the top of the cabinet or casing 22 and a soap opening 3| with suitable closure 32 is provided through the heating chamber 23. The outer surfaces of heating chamber 23 and the tub I!) are preferably covered with heat insulation material 33.

For the purpose of supplying water for washing, a water mixing valve 35 is provided which takes water from cold inlet 35 and hot inlet 3'! and supplies mixed water at a temperature determined by a water temperature control member 38. Water supply valve 39 received water from the mixing valve 35 and feeds into a mixing chamber 4! which in turn supplies water into tub l through a conduit 42 (Figure A drain valve 45 in the conduit adjacent the sump 2! may be opened by actuation of a solenoid 45 controlling such valve. A float chamber 5'! (Figure 3) indicating the height of water in the tub I0 (shown in diagram Figure 5 as separate from the tub for convenience only) causes the water supply valve 39 to be shut off by opening the circuit thereto when the level of water in the tub It) becomes a predetermined amount.

In order that the several units of the mechanism may be controlled in timed sequence to effect the desired cycle of operations in soaking, washing, rinsing, extracting and drying, a timer assembly 50 is employed which comprises a synchronous electric drive motor (not shown) which rotates a shaft 52 carrying a plurality of switch actuating cams 53, 5d, 55, 56 and 51. The time for one rotation of the cams is the time necessary to complete one cycle of operation through soaking, washing, rinsing, extracting and drying. Thus the cam 53 controls a circuit which when closed causes motor [3 and the synchronous timer motor to be operated. Likewise the cam 55 will cause water to be admitted to the wash cylinder by closing the circuit to open valve 39 during a portion of the rotation of the shaft 52. The closing of this circuit will cause water to be admitted to the tub until the level is reached which will cause the float control valve 47 to open the circuit and shut off the water. The cam 55 controls the circuit to the drain valve 45 by actuating the solenoid 1B. This drain valve is open for a portion of rotation. The cam 56 controls the actuation of the solenoid IE to change the gear ratio of the gear box l5 from low speed for washing operation to high speed for centrifugal extraction.

The cam 5? is the dryer control cam and this cam provides for closing of the circuit to the heating element 26. The other units previously listed which are in the heating circuit are the fan motor 28, the louver opening solenoid and control solenoid I9. The circuit for heating element 28 also has a series connection with thermostatic elements 26A and 263 located at the top of the tub l0 and in the sump 2|, these elements being set to open the circuit at a temperature at which the heating element 26 is to be shut off. The actuation of solenoid I!) assures that the combination drain pump and blower unit l8 will be rotated at the high speed required for operation as a blower to draw moisture saturated air from the tub Ii] through the sump 2| and into the drain line 35.

During the operation of the machine as a washer the louvers 24 are in a closed position, a spring urging the louvers to the closed position. However, when the timer dial carrying the timer cams moves cam 51 to the position for drying the solenoid 25 is actuated, as will be evident on consideration of the diagram in Figure 5. Such actuation of solenoid 25 will open the louvers and allow air passage between the chamber 23 and the tub l0. Several units in the dryer circuit are actuated at the same time by the cam 5! including the fan motor 28, the heating element 26 and the thermostats 26A, 263, all of which are on the same circuit and actuated by the single cam operated switch adjacent cam 57. In addition to the fan 21 and the fan motor 28 which forces heated air into the clothes cylinder, the combined pump and blower assembly i8 is actuated for high speed by the operation of the solenoid l9- and this higher speed of rotation of the pump-blower circulating unit I8 -is assured at the time the drying operation is started thus providing for the movement of moisture saturated air into the drain line 30. The moisture in this air will be condensed either in the atmosphere or into any outlet which may be provided. It is evident that major air circulation will be over the heating element adjacent the tub and that the inlet of air into the inlet 29 will be at approximately the rate as air is drawn into the drain line at the bottom of the tub by operation of the blower unit I8. The provision of two thermostats 26A and 2613 one near the top of the tub l0 and the other in the sump 2| assures that when either of these thermostats reaches a suificiently high temperature, the heater 26 will be turned off. Such mechanism provides for a cutting out of the dryer heating element at the proper time corresponding with the rapid rise in temperature of the air being ejected from the machine and adjacent the drying clothes. Thi increasing temperature will be experienced as the clothes reach the dry condition and this increase in temperature will result in shutting off the heating element 26.

Although the invention has been described by reference to a specific structure it is intended that various modifications may be made without departing from the fundamental principles herein disclosed and within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a washing and drying machine of the character described, a washing and drying chamber, a heating chamber adjacent said washing and drying chamber, a connecting passage between said heating chamber and said washing and drying chamber, overlapping louver members adapted to close said passage, mechanism to operate said louvers to open and close the passage between said heating chamber and said washing and drying chamber, an outlet at the bottom of said washing and drying chamber, a fluid circulator connected with said outlet adapted to operate as a pump to carry liquid during operation of the machine for washing and as a blower for exhausting air during operation of the machine for drying.

2. In a combined washing and drying machine of the character described, a washing and drying chamber, a heating chamber adjacent the upper portion of said washing and drying chamber, a connecting passage between said heating chamher and said washing and drying chamber, a closure for said passage, mechanism to operate said closure to close said passage during washing and to open said passage during drying, a heating element in said heating chamber above said connecting passage, an air circulator above said heater to circulate air from said heating chamber over said heater and into said washing and drying chamber, an outlet near the bottom of said washing and drying chamber, a circulator connected with said outlet to act as a pump to carry liquid during operation of said machine for Washing, mechanism to increase the speed of said circulator causing said circulator to act as a blower for exhausting air during operation of said machine for drying.

3. In a combined washing and drying machine of the character described, a washing and drying chamber, a heating chamber adjacent the upper portion of said washing and drying chamber, an inlet for said heating chamber, a connecting passage between said heating chamber and said washing and drying chamber, overlapping louver members adapted to close said passage during operation of said machine for Washing, mechanism adapted to open said louver members during operation of said machine for drying, an outlet at the bottom of said washing and drying chamber, a fluid circulator connected with said outlet which serves as a water pump during the operation of the machine as a Washer and as a blower to remove air during the operation of the machine as a dryer.

4. In a combination washer and dryer of the character described having a washing and drying chamber, air heating and circulating means adjacent said chamber providing air circulation into the upper portion of said chamber, an outlet in the bottom of said chamber, a fluid and air circulator connected with said outlet serving as a pump for removing water during the operation of the machine as a washer, and mechanism to increase the speed of said circulator sufliciently to enable it to act as a fan for exhausting air during operation of said machine for drying.

JOHN W. CHAMBERLIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,077,330 Clarke Nov. 4, 1913 2,194,862 McDonald Mar. 26, 1940 2,225,407 Bassett Dec. 17, 1940 2,307,254 Bassett Jan. 5, 1943 2,316,669 Busi Apr. 13, 1943 2,328,256 Breckenridge Aug. 31, 1943 2,356,816 Breckenridge Aug. 24, 1944 2,391,718 Lindemann Dec. 25, 1945 2,399,555 Locke Apr. 30, 1946 

